AL-KAFI
SHAIKH MOHAMMED BIN YAQOOB BIN ISHQKULAINITranslator: Muhammad Sarwar Vol.1
Compiling, Editing, and Adjusting the English-ArabicHadiths(Traditions) By Darolhadith Scientific-Cultural Institute
In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
FOREWORDWhat is in al-Kafi?
The contents of al-Kafi are precious gifts from Ahl al-Bayt (the fourteeninfallible family members of Prophet Muhammad, (Divine Supreme CovenantBody) to their followers.Each piece is as valuable as the wealth of the whole world. In this volume(vol. 1 of 8) there are about fourteen hundred pieces of such costly items butin the form of Hadith. Based on the above, one can imagine the value of thisprecious gift from Ahl al-Bayt (Divine Supreme Covenent Body) to their followers.The followers and supporters of Ahl al-Bayt (Divine Supreme Covenent Body)would not dispute that such Ahadith are generous gifts to them.The value of each item of such gift is mentioned in a Hadith from Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (Divine Supreme Covenent Body). He has said, "One Hadith aboutthe lawful and unlawful matters that you may receive is better for you than thewhole world and all that it contains."How would an individual accept that these items are really worth so much?As a translator, for what I know of therein, I would only ask, "Have you openedthe gift yet?"If the answer would be negative one would ask, "How would you know thecontents of the package and the value of the items therein? "The above statements are facts. They are not mere assumptions. The valueof the gift is real and the way to find such value is also realistic and logical.Simply open up your gift and check it out thoroughly. You will never agree tosell it for less than the stated value.
THE SOURCE OF HADITH
The following Hadith, in addition to other valuable information therein, alsomakes it possible for one to learn about the source and emergence of Hadith."A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from‘Abd Allah ibn al-Hajjal, from Ahmad ibn ‘Umar al-Halabi, from abu Basir whohas said the following:‘Once I went to see abu ‘Abd Allah (Divine Supreme Covenent Body) and saidto him, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I would like to askyou a question. Is there anyone else in this house who may hear my words?’"The Imam (Divine Supreme Covenent Body) then folded the curtain betweenhis room and the next room and looked into it. Then the Imam (DivineSupreme Covenent Body) said, "O abu Muhammad, ask whatever you wish."I said, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, your followers saythat the Messenger of Allah taught Ali (Divine Supreme Covenent Body) athousand chapters of knowledge and from each chapter there opened a
thousand chapters. I then said, "This, I swear by Allah, is knowledge." Hewould mark the ground with his staff (perhaps a sign of thinking) for a while.He then said, "That is knowledge but it is not that." The narrator has said thatthe Imam (Divine Supreme Covenent Body) said, "O abu Muhammad, with usthere is al-Jami‘a. Do they know what al-Jami‘a is?"I asked, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause. What is al-Jami‘a?"The Imam (Divine Supreme Covenent Body) said, "It is a parchment seventyyards long by the yards of the Messenger of Allah. It contains his dictationsfrom his very own mouth that are recorded onto it in the handwriting of Ali(Divine Supreme Covenent Body). It contains all the lawful and unlawful, andall matters that people need. Even the law of compensation for a scratchcaused to a person." He then extended his hand towards me and asked, "MayI, O abu Muhammad?" I replied, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I am entirely at your disposal." He pinched me with his hand and said,"The law of compensation, even for this much, is included therein." Heseemed angry. I said, "This, I swear by Allah is knowledge."The Imam (Divine Supreme Covenent Body) said, "It certainly is knowledgebut not that one." The Imam (Divine Supreme Covenent Body) remained silentfor a while and then said, "With us there is al-Jafr. Do they know what al-Jafr is?"I asked, "What is al-Jafr?"The Imam (Divine Supreme Covenent Body) said, "It is a container made of skin that contains the knowledge of the prophets and the executors of their wills. It is the knowledge of the scholars in the past from the Israelites."I said, "This certainly, is the knowledge."The Imam (Divine Supreme Covenent Body) said, "It certainly is knowledgebut not that knowledge." The Imam (Divine Supreme Covenent Body)remained silent for a while and then said, "With us there is the book (Mushaf)of Fatima, (Divine Supreme Covenent Body). Do they know what Mushaf of Fatima is?" The Imam (Divine Supreme Covenent Body) said, "Mushaf of Fatima is three times bigger than your Quran. There is not even a single letter therein from your Quran."I then said, "This, I swear by Allah, is the knowledge."The Imam (Divine Supreme Covenant Body) said, "This certainly isknowledge, but it is not that." The Imam (Divine Supreme Covenent Body)remained silent for a while and then said, "With us there is the knowledge of whatever has been, and the knowledge of everything that will come into beingto the Day of Judgment."I said, "May Allah take my soul in service for your cause. This, I swear byAllah, certainly, is the knowledge."The Imam (Divine Supreme Covenant Body) said, "It certainly is knowledgebut not that knowledge."